2000 Cave de Rasteau CÃ´tes du Rhone Villages
Lovely dark red. An unusual odor just after opening the bottle, which initially turned me off. But that subsided quickly. Light fruit and a strong scent of licorice, along with some spice. This wine has a great balance; plenty of fruit to go along with significant spice and tannins on the finish. I imagine this could improve for a few more years, so I took a few home at Christmas.
Rasteau is a commune near CdP in the South RhÃ´ne, for those who aren't familiar with it. Mainly old-vine grenache, plus some syrah and mourvÃ¨dre. 4.50 euros before it made the Guide Hachette, 6.50 after.

2000 La Piade Vinsobres CÃ´tes du Rhone
Very recognizable by the illustration of a huge wild boar, which dominates the label. A thin layer of unripe fruit and earth on the nose. Some fruit on the tongue, which quickly trails off into earth flavors. Too young at this point. After a couple of hours it opened up, though. And it was versatile; I drank a glass or two with cous-cous merguez, which brought out some spice in the wine. A couple sips were left over for dessert, a fruit & rum cake, and it did quite well with that too.
5.50 euros; grenache and syrah.